Sam Allardyce backs Steve Bruce to get West Brom into play-offs
Former West Brom manager Sam Allardyce has backed Steve Bruce to secure a play-off spot with the Baggies amid a tough start at the club.
Albion currently sit in ninth spot in the table and are yet to win a game yet under their new boss.
Allardyce claimed the former Newcastle United manager has everything it takes for promotion, but he just needs to settle in at the Hawthorns.
“He’s been there, seen it, done it, knows what to do. And he’s done it with lesser clubs than West Brom, as well,” he told Birmingham Live.
“He got Hull City up into the Premier League, he did it with Sunderland, Birmingham, he’s got the experience and the know-how to lift this team.
“At the very, very least, Steve will get you into the play-offs this season. Once he’s got his feet under the table, he will lift that team and get them into the play-offs.”
Tried & tested
There aren’t many managers out there with the experience of Bruce. Many Baggies fans were very disappointed with his appointment, but it was the right one.
Lai Guochuan went in a new direction under Valerien Ismael and we all know too well how that ended so the club wanted a stabiliser.
It would be too difficult for a so-called stylish or exciting manager to come in mid-season and impose their tactics on the team.
These players look scarred from the tactical torture Ismael put them through and Bruce is doing his best job to bring them back round. As you can see, it’s a very tough task for even the most robust managers.
In an ideal world, Bruce would secure the Baggies promotion this season and end the final year on his contract by keeping them in the Premier League.
That would be his job very successfully done which makes room for a more suited long-term boss to come in.
Bruce will be dying to achieve as much success as possible at the Hawthorns following his ugly departure from Newcastle so let’s see what he can do.
In other Albion news, West Brom ace Andy Carroll dubbed ‘absolutely fantastic’ – Joseph Masi.